Graf Named to Germany's U-20 National Team

KLATOVY, Czech Republic — While the rest of her teammates on the Yale University women's basketball team are enjoying their summers off, junior guard Janna Graf is taking her basketball skills overseas in an effort to help Germany's U-20 National Team contend for the European Championships.

While Graf was born in the United Stats, she holds dual citizenship with Germany, which allows her to play for the German National Team.

In preparation for the European Championships, which will be played in Klatovy, Czech Republic, from Aug. 16-26, the German National Team has played seven exhibition "friendly" games this summer, including three against the U-20 team from the Czech Republic, two against the Ukraine, and two against Belgium.

In the five "friendly" games from which complete statistics are available, Graf has averaged 6.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 21.8 minutes per game. In those five games, Graf made 12 of her 34 field goal attempts (35.3 percent) and six of her 17 3-point attempts (35.3 percent).

In her strongest performance in the friendly games, Graf tallied 10 points on 3-of-5 shooting and 3-of-4 from the free-throw line to go with five rebounds in a 98-94 overtime loss to the Ukraine on Aug. 3. It was her second double-digit scoring effort against the Ukraine. She also scored 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting to go with three rebounds, two assists and a steal in the first meeting to help Germany take a 71-53 victory on Aug. 2.

While she is gaining valuable experience on the international stage, Graf is expected to be a key contributor to Germany's quest for gold in the European Championships next week.